Looked after children - Me and my social worker
Contact with social worker
Your social worker will be your main contact in social services. This person is trained to help young people and their families and should take time to get to know you.
When you start to be looked after your social worker must come and meet you within the first seven days. You should then meet up with your social worker regularly and he or she should talk to you on your own about how things are going. Your social worker will also be in touch with your family.
Your social worker is responsible for making sure you are looked after properly and can help you sort out any difficulties you are having. When your social worker has got to know you he or she will write down what difficulties there are in your family and what social services can do to help. This is called a care plan . A care plan should include details about:
- where you will live
- who will look after you
- practical things such as how much allowance (pocket money) you will get
- when and how you will see you family
- what the plan is for the future
If you have other needs such as health, diet or help speaking English this should also be included in your care plan. You will be shown your plan and will have a chance to say if there is anything you do not agree with. Once you have agreed the plan your social worker is responsible for making sure you get the care that has been agreed.
You can call your social worker at any time, but may not always be able to get hold of him or her straight away. All social workers work in teams and there is always someone in the team who is responsible for making sure that messages are taken and urgent problems are dealt with. This person is called a duty social worker . Call social services for free on 0800 358 8485. If your social worker is not about ask for the duty worker.
